Getty / Justin Paget
When I tiptoe down the driveway and open the gate to let myself into Joey's backyard, I discover an Instagrammable, Palm Beach-style oasis. Flamingo floaties glide across a sparkling, waterfall-fed pool. Shimmery tinsel curtains hang from the door frames. Sabrina Carpenter croons from the speaker system. A bottle of fancy pink champagne sits on ice.
I have never met Joey before. I don't even know what he looks like. I couldn't tell you where he went to high school or what his go-to karaoke song is. By definition, Joey is a stranger.
And yet, Joey is expecting me. He is waiting on his back porch, ready to greet me like an old friend. I booked Joey's luxurious pool and backyard space for the afternoon through Swimply, a pool-sharing platform.
What Is Swimply?
You can think of Swimply as the Airbnb of pools - everybody else does, says Swimply founder Bunim Laskin. "We're an app that lets homeowners share pools and amenities they don't use very often with their communities," Laskin tells PS.
Laskin conceived the idea that would become Swimply in 2018. On a visit home one summer, Laskin noticed his neighbor had a pool she barely used. He offered to help pay for the pool if she'd let him and his siblings use it.
"She agreed right away," Laskin says. "Once our family was using the pool, the rest of the block noticed and started offering her the same arrangement. Within two weeks, she had six families paying her 25 percent of her expenses."
The idea evolved into Swimply, a platform that lets you rent local, vetted private pools by the hour. Today, the app features over 25,000 listings across the US, Canada, and Australia. In addition to pools, Swimply lets you book spaces and underutilized amenities, such as pickleball and basketball courts.
Swimming pool rentals range from your standard above-grounder to truly swanky resort-style setups - like this epic mid-century heated indoor pool in Oregon or this waterfront pool with a hot tub and tennis courts in Florida. Prices start around $15 and go upwards of a few hundred dollars per hour.
How Does Swimply Work?
Swimply acts as a middleman, connecting homeowners with users who want to rent their pools and underutilized spaces. "We give owners full control," Laskin says. "Owners can specify how many people are allowed into their backyard, how late people can stay, how many cars can come, and what kind of experiences are allowed."
From the user's perspective, the platform is fairly straightforward. After creating an account, you can search for local pools and amenities on the Swimply website or mobile app. You can then filter by details like "pet friendly" or "party friendly," as well as available amenities like grills and hot tubs.
What's Swimply Like?
To give me the whole Swimply experience, the company hooked me up with three complimentary swims in my city, Austin, TX - which happens to be Swimply's second-largest market behind Los Angeles. With over 200 listings to choose from, I had no trouble hunting down three fabulous-looking rentable pools within a 20-minute drive from my apartment.
Pool One
I booked my first Swimply for a Thursday afternoon. Shortly after booking, my host emailed me an instructional video with information on accessing the property, connecting to the WiFi, setting up the sound system, and other helpful tips.
Thanks to the instructions, I had no trouble letting myself into the backyard, where I discovered a waterfall-fed pool stocked with floaties. The space was outfitted with lounge chairs, a hot tub, a widescreen TV, a mini fridge, and a dedicated outdoor bathroom for my use. There was even a playscape and zipline.
I connected to the music and posted up on a floatie. With the sprawling backyard and pool to myself, I felt like a queen. The two hours went quickly, and I never spotted my host.
Pool Two
When I pulled up pool number two - an 18-by-33-footer outfitted with pool toys and water guns - the host, Liz, was waiting to greet me. At first, I didn't know how to feel about this. I hadn't realized that interacting with strangers was part of this experience.
"Maria!" Liz exclaimed, springing up from the front porch and running out to greet me, trailed by three chihuahuas. "Please, park in the driveway."
Moments after meeting my host, my inner anxious introvert relaxed. Liz was charming as she enthusiastically showed me how to hook up my music and access my private bathroom through a separate entrance. As quickly as she emerged, Liz disappeared, bustling back inside and taking her dogs with her. I didn't see Liz again until the end of the two hours, when she came outside to let her chihuahua use the bathroom and welcome me to hang out an extra half hour.
Pool Three
This brings me back to Joey's pool, or pool number three. My third and final pool was also my fanciest, fed by a waterfall and outfitted with swim-up bar stools and pool chairs. The space featured cabanas, chaise lounges, and a bar.
Like the previous host, Joey came out to greet me as soon as I arrived. He gave me a quick tour and explained how to find the bathroom, which was located in the house.
Before leaving me to my pool party of one, Joey handed me a card and pointed to the champagne. "Just a little something for you to thank you for booking our pool," he said. A classy touch.
I spent a highly relaxing couple of hours tanning on the pool chairs and eyeing the champagne longingly. (As yummy as it looked, I couldn't justify breaking into a whole bottle of champagne by myself on a workday at 2 p.m) At one point, I had to take an afternoon meeting, which I did, poolside (to the envy of the other participants on the call).
For my money, there was but one downside to the otherwise picture-perfect pool number three: The bathroom sitch. The bathroom was located inside via a lengthy trek through the kitchen and bedroom. On one of my several bathroom journeys, I ran into the host's partner sitting on the couch. We introduced ourselves, and I survived the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time while wearing a bikini and dripping water on their carpet. Truly a uniquely Swimply experience.
PS Photography / María Cristina Lalonde
My Verdict
All in all, my Swimply swims were smooth, sunny, and seamless. Any trepidation about swimming in strangers' pools was dispelled by my friendly hosts and their picturesque pools.
Would I book a Swimply again? Heck yes. I'm already fantasizing about the potential pool parties I might throw this summer at Joey's spot.
My initial experience of feeling slightly awkward about swimming in a stranger's backyard is a common one, according to Laskin. "When we recently surveyed our hosts and guests, we asked them how comfortable they were before their first booking. Most people were about a three," Laskin says. "When we asked them how comfortable they were after their second booking, both were over eight."
"Once you shake someone's hand, they go from a stranger to a friend," Laskin adds. "And with Swimply, you're meeting people in some of their happiest moments."
Related: Does Your Summer Need a "Coolcation"? María Cristina Lalonde is a freelance journalist and aspiring kickboxing champion. She has written about sexual health, fitness, and wellness for over a decade. Her articles have appeared in, among other publications, the Houston Chronicle, Everyday Health, Giddy, and U.S. News & World Report. Read More Details
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